Best Drives Along the Ottawa Valley

The Ottawa Valley is overlooked by Ontario road trippers who default to Muskoka and Georgian Bay. That is a mistake. The valley offers big river views along the Ottawa River, access to Algonquin Park from the east, small towns with genuine character, and roads that are nearly empty compared to cottage country routes.

Highway 17 River Route — Arnprior to Deep River, 180 km

Highway 17 follows the Ottawa River through logging country. Renfrew, Pembroke, Petawawa, and Chalk River are small towns with big river views. The road is well-maintained and traffic is light outside of Pembroke. Stop at Bonnechere Caves near Eganville for a geological detour — guided tours run May through October. For a detailed exploration of the Petawawa area, see our Petawawa guide.

Highway 60 to Algonquin — Renfrew to Whitney, 220 km

This route takes you from the Ottawa River valley through Eganville, Barry's Bay, and Madawaska before entering Algonquin Park through the east gate near Whitney. The landscape shifts from farmland to Canadian Shield as you climb. Barry's Bay has good restaurants and a Kawartha Dairy for ice cream. The Highway 60 Corridor through Algonquin is 56 km of trailheads, lookouts, and moose habitat. Gas up before entering the park — there are no fuel stations along the corridor.

Opeongo Line — 50 km from Highway 17

A lesser-known route south from the Madawaska area into the highlands. Narrow, winding, and scenic. Not for everyone — the road is rough in spots and there are no services. But if you want solitude and Shield landscape without the crowds, this is it.

White-Water Rafting Detour

The Ottawa River near Beachburg (between Pembroke and Arnprior) has some of the best white-water rafting in Ontario. Multiple outfitters run half-day and full-day trips from May through September. If you are driving through anyway, building a rafting stop into a Valley road trip is an excellent addition.

For more Eastern Ontario routes, see our Ontario road trips and small-town Ontario guide.